He says "Bill, I believe this is killing me,"
as a smile ran away from his face;
"Well I'm sure that I could be a movie star
if I could get out of this place."
Billy Joel, The Piano Man
I was going to post this yesterday but I fell asleep at 6 and didn't wake up until today.
When I think about my dreams of being famous, I am often overcome with a real sense of urgency and dread; for every second I spend not cultivating my talent, there is somebody who is. I am falling behind in the race, one step at a time, and by the time I reach the finish line nobody will care.
Recently I considered the idea that I don't need to race if I don't want the prize. Certainly, there are people who want it more, and they are far more likely to get it. So perhaps the correct path is to give up on my dream and pursue something more doable.
Later that day I talked to Wendy, one of my teachers. Her belief was that you should follow your dreams, regardless of how impossible they may seem, because they are your dreams and the mere pursuit of them is rewarding in itself. The pain of failure may be great, but not as bad as the regret of an unpursued dream. And as long as you are pursuing your dream, in a sense you are living it.
So forget about the competition, and follow your dream no matter how slow the progress is. Keep it alive, and keep moving towards it, even if its only an inch at a time.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Symbiosis
So here' s something I just realized about human nature, and like most pieces of wisdom it comes directly from nature.
There are three ways in which species interact. The first is mutualism, where both species benefit (like the clown fist and sea anemone, or bees and flowers. The second is commensialism, where one species benefits and the other is not significantly affected (like birds building their nests in a tree, or remoras hitching a ride on sharks). The third is parasitism, where one species benefits from harm done to the other species (like predators or tapeworms).
The human equivalent of a mutualist is a store owner, or a couple in a loving relationship. Both parties provide benefit to one another.
The human equivalent of a commensialist is a people watcher, or a beggar. The commensialist derives benefit at virtually no cost to the other party.
The human equivalent of a parasite is a thief, a polluter or someone who does not honor their debts. Parasites get benefit by causing harm to others.
The way I've approached life up to this point is attempting to have a symbiotic relationship with everybody, but that's clearly a poor strategy given the varying strategies with which people approach relationships. Ideally we would all be mutualists, but as long as people are willing to trust strangers there will be commensialists and parasites.
The moral? When interacting with someone try to determine which one of the three approaches they are taking. Mutualists are great. Commensialists aren't really worth your time. Parasites can burn in hell.
PS One could argue we are all parasites in regards to animals and developing countries, and I would have to agree. But I'm still going to say fuck you to anybody who tries to feed off of me.
PS 2 Watch Zeitgeist the movie. ASAP.
There are three ways in which species interact. The first is mutualism, where both species benefit (like the clown fist and sea anemone, or bees and flowers. The second is commensialism, where one species benefits and the other is not significantly affected (like birds building their nests in a tree, or remoras hitching a ride on sharks). The third is parasitism, where one species benefits from harm done to the other species (like predators or tapeworms).
The human equivalent of a mutualist is a store owner, or a couple in a loving relationship. Both parties provide benefit to one another.
The human equivalent of a commensialist is a people watcher, or a beggar. The commensialist derives benefit at virtually no cost to the other party.
The human equivalent of a parasite is a thief, a polluter or someone who does not honor their debts. Parasites get benefit by causing harm to others.
The way I've approached life up to this point is attempting to have a symbiotic relationship with everybody, but that's clearly a poor strategy given the varying strategies with which people approach relationships. Ideally we would all be mutualists, but as long as people are willing to trust strangers there will be commensialists and parasites.
The moral? When interacting with someone try to determine which one of the three approaches they are taking. Mutualists are great. Commensialists aren't really worth your time. Parasites can burn in hell.
PS One could argue we are all parasites in regards to animals and developing countries, and I would have to agree. But I'm still going to say fuck you to anybody who tries to feed off of me.
PS 2 Watch Zeitgeist the movie. ASAP.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Reasons
I'm creating this blog because I need to scream. Even if it gets lost immediately among the millions already screaming their opinions into the void, I need to say how I feel because if I don't it's just going to eat me alive.
Right now, I want to scream because the world is so fucking unfair and there's nothing I can do about it. I see the people who are willfully ignorant, the people who are aware but apathetic and I don't want to be either of those people. I feel like we're ants and the people with power are the children with magnifying glasses.
It's always about fucking power. It's true in nature and it's true in society. The strong devour the weak, and all the weak can do is run away.
I don't want to run away. But fighting seems equally impossible.
Those fucking assholes. Or maybe that's just how life is; oppressive for anybody who isn't at the top of the food chain.
I don't want my dream of coexistence to die. But it seems so incompatible with this world. Baby steps, eh?
I guess learning all of this shit is part of growing up.
Right now, I want to scream because the world is so fucking unfair and there's nothing I can do about it. I see the people who are willfully ignorant, the people who are aware but apathetic and I don't want to be either of those people. I feel like we're ants and the people with power are the children with magnifying glasses.
It's always about fucking power. It's true in nature and it's true in society. The strong devour the weak, and all the weak can do is run away.
I don't want to run away. But fighting seems equally impossible.
Those fucking assholes. Or maybe that's just how life is; oppressive for anybody who isn't at the top of the food chain.
I don't want my dream of coexistence to die. But it seems so incompatible with this world. Baby steps, eh?
I guess learning all of this shit is part of growing up.
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